Champions to be crowned

The Huntington Beach Pro/Junior Surf Series will crown nine

division champions this weekend when the series concludes its 2002

competition schedule beginning on Friday at the south side of the

pier.

The championship weekend will offer the largest cash prizes to

date in the history of the series.

“The 2002 championships should be a blast,” said event director,

Seth Matson. “With a swell in the forecast and this event being

double-rated, I plan to see some fierce competition going on.”

A $2,000 cash prize will go to the first place Pro/Junior winner.

In addition, the division’s overall first place rated surfer will win

a round trip ticket to Indonesia.

The “Macho” Airshow will award a $500 cash prize to the competitor

who gets the biggest, cleanest aerial, and/or the most radical

maneuver in the four-man final, Matson said.

The Pro/Junior Division and Macho Airshow contestants will compete

in preliminary heats on Friday, leading up to the finals on Saturday

afternoon.

The Pro/Junior Division is open to surfers who are 20 years of age

and under. The airshow is open to all ages.

Three amateur divisions -- Super groms (11 and under), boys (12 to

14), and juniors (15 to 17) will get started on Saturday following

the Pro/Junior final.

On Sunday morning, the same three divisions will continue with

action at 7 a.m. and precede competition in men’s (18 to 28), masters

(29 and up), longboard (open) and women’s (open).

The series, which is sanctioned by the United States Surfing

Federation, runs four-man heats with the top two advancing to the

next round.

Due to limited space, competitors are encouraged to pre-register

to guarantee a spot in the weekend competition. Entry forms can be

obtained at most Downtown surf shops or by calling the series at

(714) 596-5019.